Sugar cane variety CL77-797

ABSTRACT

A cross between a female variety known as CL61-620 with a mixture of male varieties has produced an improved variety of sugar cane.

This invention relates generally to a new variety of sugar cane.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of sugar cane with the identifying number CL77-797originated as a seedling produced by the inventor by crossing thevariety CL61-620 as a female with a mixture of varieties as male. Inthis form of variety designation, which is well known to sugar canebreeders, "CL" denotes the breeding locality or station, i.e. Clewiston,Fla.; 77 represents the year that the particular variety was firstgrown, i.e. 1977; and 797 is the distinctive number assigned to thatvariety among those grown in that year. The cross was made in December1975, at Clewiston, Fla. and this new variety was selected from amongthe progeny of the cross. The inventor has subsequently asexuallyreproduced the new variety at Clewiston, Fla., by means of stemcuttings.

The new variety matures early (i.e. has commercially acceptable sucroselevels beginning in November), maintains a high level of sucrosethroughout the harvest season (a typical harvest season is November 1 toMarch 15), produces high tons per acre of cane and high tons per acre ofsugar. In a trial with six replications in a randomized complete-blockdesign over three crops (i.e., three crops were harvested from the samesix plots) on a medium mineral Terra Ceia organic soil, the new cloneaveraged higher in both early and late percent yield of sucrose (yieldof 96° sucrose, percent cane) and higher in both early and late tons peracre of sucrose than standard cultivars CL61-620 and CP70-1133 . The newclone produced more tons per acre of cane than CP70-1133 and slightlyless than CL61-620. In a trial with four replications in a randomizedcomplete-block design extending over three crop years on a low mineralTerra Ceia organic soil, the new clone averaged higher in both early andlate percent yield of sucrose than standard cultivars CL61-620 andCP72-1210 . The new clone exceeded CP72-1210 in tons per acre of caneand both early and late tons per acre of sucrose. The new cloneapproached CL61-620 in tons per acre of cane, and both early and latetons per acre of sucrose. The new clone has been competitive withstandard cultivars under large scale outfield testing practices. Duringthe 1994-95 season CL77-797 was compared with both CL61-620 andCP80-1827 in the first crop of successively planted cane (successiveplanting refers to the cycle of planting in which the old stubble isdisced out immediately after harvest, the field prepared for planting,then planted with sugar cane after only a few weeks). The large scaleoutfield testing fields, which varied from 35 to 70 acres each, weredistributed over variable organic soil types, and varied in plantingdates and harvest dates. CL77-797 averaged higher in percent yield ofsucrose, tons per acre of cane, and tons per acre of sucrose than eitherCL61-620 or CP80-1827.

In one regular commercial planting following fallow in a 37-acre field,this new variety produced 88 tons per acre of cane and 9.8 tons per acreof sugar in a 17-month crop.

The new variety is not recommended for commercial use on sandy soils.

Based on experimental tests and extensive field observations the newvariety is judged to be resistant to several diseases common to Florida.In inoculation tests the variety was highly resistant to smut (caused byUstilago scitaminea Syd. and P. Syd.), resistant to ratoon stuntingdisease (caused by Clavibacter xyli subsp. xyli, Davis), resistant toleaf scald (caused by Xanthomonas albilineans Ashby, Dowson) and tosugarcane mosaic virus strains A, B, D, and E. In order to verify theinoculation tests, extensive field observations were made and thevariety was found to maintain its resistance to the four diseases aboveunder commercial cultural practices. Further, based on extensive fieldobservations the new variety is judged to be resistant to rust disease(caused by Puccinia melanocephala Syd. and P. Syd.), eye spot disease(caused by Bipolaris sacchari (Butl.) Shoemaker), and brown stripe(caused by Cochliobolus stenospilus (Drechs.) Mat. and Yam. The newclone is subject to natural infections of pokkah being (caused byFusarium moniliforme Sheldon).

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved variety of sugar cane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description of the drawings and appendedclaim, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically and photographically inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a photographic view of approximate midsections of typicalstalks, showing internode 1, stem bud 5, growth ring 2, leaf scar 6, waxring 4, and root band 3; two of the stalks (laid with buds at sides)illustrate the zig zag alignment of internodes.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the anterior (FIG. 2A) and posterior (FIG. 2B)views of the stem bud, showing germ pore 7, prophyll 8, and wing 9;

FIG. 3 is a view of the two separated and flattened halves of the upperpart of a leaf sheath, showing the outer aurice 10, the inner auricle12, and the dewlap or blade joint 11;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the outline of a ligule after its removal fromthe inner surface of the leaf sheath; and

FIG. 5 is a photographic view showing intermediate age cane illustratingthat the cane has begun to lodge.

FIG. 6 is a photographic view of young cane showing that stalks on theoutside of the stools bow outwardly near the base.

FIG. 7 is a photographic view including a representative 36.6-decimeterstalk of 16-month-old CL77-797 from a 65 ton-per-acre field illustratingthe recumbent growth habit of mature stalks.

FIG. 8 is a photographic view of CL77-797 showing the recumbent growthhabit of the new sugar cane after it was burned in preparation forharvest.

FIG. 9 is a photographic view illustrating the erectness of the leafblade and the drooping tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the new variety of sugar cane,the terminology employed in morphological description and numbering ofhair groups is that employed by Artschwager. (See Sugarcane (Saccharumofficinarum L.: Origin, Classification, Characteristics, and Descriptionof Representative Clones by Ernst Artschwager and E. W. Brandes.Agriculture Handbook No. 122. United States Department of Agriculture,1958.) Color descriptions are made by referring to the plates of Maerzand Paul. (See A Dictionary of Color, second edition, by A. Maerz and M.Rea Paul. McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1950.)

The Stalk (or Culm)

Habit of growth: In commercial plantings emergence of the new variety isslower and after emergence the rate of growth in early season is averagewhen compared to the current population of commercial varieties (basedon observations of farm managers at the United States SugarCorporation).

Stalks of young cane on the outside of the stools bow outwardly near thebase (see FIG. 6). The stalks begin to lodge as the crop matures (seeFIG. 5) and most are recumbent by time of harvest (see FIGS. 7 and 8).The new variety approximates CL61-620 in recumbency. It is morerecumbent than CP80-1827. The internodes of the stalk are slightly zigzag in alignment (see FIG. 1). A typical angle formed by two internodesmeeting at a node approximates 4.5 degrees, but angles of 2 degrees to 8degrees are not unusual.

The new recumbent variety is harvested satisfactorily by the choppertype mechanical harvester currently in use in Florida. This one-rowharvester is equipped with break away crop divider points and scrolls(twin spiral crop dividers) which operate between the rows and directcane to the throat of the harvester where the base cutters are located.There have been no reports of brittleness for CL77-797 in the commercialharvest operations.

Based on a survey of farm managers at the United States SugarCorporation, the new variety has fewer suckers (late produced stalkswith low sucrose content) in commercial fields at harvest than standardvarieties CL61-620 and CP80-1827. The new variety has fewer than theaverage number of stools pulled out of the ground by the mechanicalharvester indicating a stronger than average root system. The newvariety ratoons well after harvest; i.e. a high population of new shootsemerge in the regrowth.

Size: The stalks in mature plant cane averaged 32 decimeters long onmedium mineral Terra Ceia organic soil and 25 decimeters long on lowmineral Terra Ceia organic soil. They are near circular in crosssection, averaging 27 millimeters (nonbud side) ×28.0 millimeters (budside to bud side) in the middle part of the stalk. The larger diametervaried from 23.4 to 32.7 millimeters. The stalk diameter is consideredof medium thickness when compared to the population of commercialvarieties in Florida. It is slightly smaller in diameter than CL61-620.

Flesh: The color of the flesh often approximates Maerz and Paul'sdesignation 9-C-1. The flesh may have a small hole in the center of across section. The stalk averages 10.6 percent fiber content.

Internodes: They are slightly concave convex in shape (see Artschwagerand Brandes, p. 49, FIG. 10) and range from 8 to 13 centimeters long inthe middle of the stalks, averaging 11. 5 centimeters. Usually budfurrows are shallow; they may vary from absent, short, or extend thelength of the internode. Neither corky cracks nor growth cracks areevident. A moderately tall wax ring is usually apparent. The internodesare covered by a moderately heavy wax bloom.

Color: In actively growing stalks, the stem color of internodes near thetop of the plant that are protected by a tight leaf sheath initiallyapproximate Maerz and Paul's 10-F-1. Quickly the color of mostinternodes in this area darkens to approximate 18-1-2. In older areas ofthe stalk, a few internodes that have been protected by a tight leafsheath may remain as light colored as Maerz and Paul's 10-G-2. After thesheath loosens, the color of the rind of most internodes progressesthrough shades of green with Maerz and Paul's 20-L-5 and 23-L-1 as mostfrequent colors. Internode rinds exposed to direct sunlight quicklyassume a reddish blush due to anthocyanin pigments, then with lengthyexposure the rind color darkens to approximate Maerz and Paul's 8-L-4.The wax covering on the rind may become black from mold growth andcompletely mask the underlying stem color.

The initial color of the growth ring approximates Maerz and Paul's 9-H-3but older growth rings may darken to approximate the color of theassociated internode. The initial color of the root band approximatesMaerz and Paul's 9-D-2 then the color may darken with age to approximatethat of the associated internode.

Growth ring: It ranges from 2.4 to 5.5 millimeters in height andaverages 3.3 millimeters. It is tumescent on older internodes. It isabout the same color as the internode.

Root Band: It is taller on the bud side than the opposite side. It is4.2 to 8.8 millimeters tall, averaging 6.6 millimeters when measured inthe middle of the flat side. It is straight in the bud region andobconoidal opposite the bud. The color is lighter than the basic colorof the internode. Usually two rows of root primordia are present; theymay be irregular and the upper row may be lacking.

Leaf scar: The leaf scar protrudes and is oblique. It flares slightlyunder the bud.

Epidermal cells: The pattern of the stem epidermal cells isArtschwager's type 1 in which the small cell groups consist of one corkcell and one silica cell in single pairs.

Stem Buds

General characteristics: The buds are inserted at or slightly above theedge of the leaf scar. The bud tips generally extend to the growth ring.The buds are medium in size, slightly plump, not protruding. Theyaverage 7.2 millimeters wide ×8.2 millimeters high (not including thewing). The central disk of the prophyll is an ovate shape capped by abroad wing.

Wings of the Prophyll: The wings are inserted at or slightly above themiddle of the prophyll. The wings are consistently broad on the sides.There is a notch at the tip separating the two lateral halves.

Pubescence. The buds are somewhat fringed with long hairs. Hair groups1, 4, 10, 11, 15, 19, and 22 are usually prominent.

The Leaf

The Blade: The blades are erect with a drooping tip (see FIG. 9). Theyare medium to dark green in color. The larger leaves on each stalk are4.2 to 6.1 centimeters wide averaging 5.1, and are 119.4 to 158.1centimeters long, averaging 140.5. The ratio of the length of the bladeto the width averages 27.7.

The Sheath: The sheaths have an average length of 29.0 centimeters. Asthe leaves senesce, the top of the sheaths pull away from the stalks,but the base of the sheaths remain attached. The dorsal field ofpubescence (group 57) is in a narrow field usually less than 1centimeter wide, may be sparse, and may not be present on all sheaths.The hairs are sharp and spine like. Hair group 56 is present on coveredsheaths, but the associated tissue senesces rapidly upon exposure.

Dewlaps: The dewlaps are generally darker in color than the leaf bladeand leaf sheath. They may appear brownish red; the brownish red colorsare particularly noticeable in unexposed dewlaps in the whorl. The shapeis descending, narrow double crescent.

Auricles: The outer auricle is straight transitional. The area of theinner auricle rapidly senesces after exposure to variability; a distinctlanceolate shape is present in low frequency. When present, thelanceolate auricles vary from 7.5 to 31.0 millimeters in height.

Ligules: The ligule is crescent shaped with a distinct lozenge. Itvaries from 5.0 to 7.2 millimeters tall at the center.

Inflorescence: Under natural conditions, this new variety has beenobserved to flower only infrequently in Florida, and only in lateseason. The inflorescence is average in length and width and moderatelythick in appearance compared to a population of Florida clones. Thestigma color is maroon and the anther color yellow. (The pollen colorwas not recorded). The pollen has been viable under controlledconditions where the temperature was maintained above 65° F. duringfloral development and anther dehiscence.

Important characteristics which, in combination, help to distinguishthis variety of sugarcane from all other known varieties are:

(1) Very early maturity.

(2) High sucrose content over a long possible harvest period.

(3) Stalks which bow outwardly from the stool in young cane and usuallybecome recumbent in mature cane.

(4) The internodes are zig zag in alignment.

(5) Stalks with diameters in the middle of the stalks averaging about 27millimeters ×28 millimeters.

(6) Fiber content of stalks averaging about 10.6%.

(7) Shallow bud furrows of varying lengths present on some of theinternodes.

(8) Growth ring about 3 millimeters tall and tumescent.

(9) Root band usually about 6.6 millimeters tall with usually two rowsof root primordia, but the upper row may be irregular or lacking.

(10) The stem pattern is type 1 in Artschwager's terminology.

(11) The central disk of prophyll is an ovate shape.

(12) A broad wing is inserted at or slightly above the middle of theprophyll.

(13) The wing of the bud is prominently notched at the apex separatingthe two lateral buds.

(14) The buds are rather prominently fringed with hairs.

(15) The leaf blades are rather erect with a drooping tip.

(16) The dorsal pubescence of the leaf sheath covers a narrow area, andthe hairs are spine like.

(17) The dewlaps are descending narrow double crescent in shape.

(18) The outer auricle is usually straight transitional in shape.

(19) The inner auricle may be lanceolate in shape.

(20) The ligule is crescent-shaped with a distinct lozenge and isusually about 5 to 7 millimeters tall.

In a small plot test over three crops (three crops were harvested fromthe same plots) on a medium mineral Term Ceia organic soil, the newclone produced 4 percent lower tons per acre of cane, 7 percent higherearly tons per acre of sugar (November), and 2 percent higher late tonsper acre of sugar (January-February) than the standard cultivarCL61-620. In the same test the new done produced 9 percent higher tonsper acre of cane, 17 percent higher early tons per acre of sugar, and 22percent higher late tons per acre of sugar than the standard cultivarCP70-1133. In a test over three years on a low mineral Terra Ceiaorganic soil the new clone produced 7 percent lower tons per acre ofsugar than standard cultivar CL61-620. In the same test the new cultivarproduced 11 percent higher tons cone per acre, 22 percent higher earlytons sugar per acre, and 24 percent higher late tons sugar per acre thanthe standard cultivar CP72-1210.

In one crop of large outfield test on various organic soils west of LakeOkeechobee the new clone produced 10 percent greater tons per acre ofcane and 33 percent greater tons per acre of sugar than the standardcultivar CP80-1827. In the same tests the new clone produced 14 percentgreater tons per acre of cane and 23 percent greater tons per acre ofsugar than the standard cultivar CL61-620. These were conducted on morethan 1,000 acres per variety. In one crop of large outfield tests onvarious organic soils east of Lake Okeechobee the new clone produced 9percent greater tons per acre of cane, and 14 percent greater tons peracre of sugar than the standard cultivar CP8 1827.In the same tests thenow variety produced 11 percent greater tons per acre of cane and 12percent greater tons per acre of sugar than the standard cultivarCL61-62O. These tests involved over 900 acres per variety.

What is claimed is:
 1. The new and distinct variety of sugar cane hereinshown, described, and identified by the combination of thecharacteristics set forth above.